China launches lobbying push on currency bill

By Tim Reid and Susan Cornwell

China has launched an intense lobbying effort in Washington to kill legislation that would punish it for its currency system, in the latest display of its more sophisticated approach to influence U.S. policy.

Crude mixed in Asia

Crude prices were mixed in Asia Tuesday as traders cheered on a Franco-German debt rescue commitment and exports from oil-producing Kuwait were disrupted, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in November, was up 18 cents to $85.59 per barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for November delivery dipped 14 cents to $108.81.

NBA cancels first two weeks of regular season

NBA commissioner David Stern canceled the first two weeks of the 2011-12 regular season after several hours of meetings failed to result in a new labor deal.

NBA commissioner David Stern canceled the first two weeks of the 2011-12 regular season after several hours of meetings failed to result in a new labor deal.

China halts Mekong shipping after deadly attack

China Monday suspended shipping on the Mekong after 11 sailors were killed on two cargo ships attacked last week in the Golden Triangle where the river runs through China, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.

The halt in boat traffic was announced by the ministry of foreign affairs and reported by the official Xinhua news agency, citing maritime officials in southwest China's Yunnan province.

UN expert urges Thailand to amend royal insult laws

A UN expert on Monday urged Thailand to amend its controversial lese majeste laws, saying a recent increase in legal cases highlights the urgent need for reforms.

"I urge Thailand to hold broad-based public consultations to amend section 112 of the penal code and the 2007 Computer Crimes Act so that they are in conformity with the country's international human rights obligations," said Frank La Rue, special rapporteur on freedom of expression.

Amnesty urges Indonesia to probe 'deadly force' at mine

Rights group Amnesty International on Tuesday urged Indonesia to investigate the use of "deadly force" by police who shot dead one protester and injured six others at a mining protest.

Indonesian security forces opened fire Monday on workers striking over wages at a mine run by US company Freeport McMoRan in remote Papua province, Amnesty said in a statement.

Syria official tells Turkey not to 'inflame' violence

Syria on Monday warned Turkey against "inflaming" unrest in the country, where more than 3,000 people are estimated to have died in six months of protests against President Bashar al-Assad.

Buthaina Shaaban, media adviser to the Syrian president, who has repeatedly promised reforms, told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that "armed gangs" were responsible for the violence.

Taib may have found ‘true successor’ : If so, why should the new CM be a Melanau ethnic ?

TAIB MAHMUD : This man is
being highly treasured & protected
by PM NAJIB RAZAK & BN regime,
putting him above all laws in M'sia.

By Joseph Tawie

Little known former state forestry director Len Talif Salleh, who holds many of Taib Mahmud's deepest secrets, is now a serious contender for the Sarawak's chief minister's post.

KUCHING: Many believe that the leading contenders to succeed ageing Chief MInister Taib Mahmud are his Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) party information chief, Adenan Satem, senior vice-president Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and its deputy president Abang Johari Tun Openg. But others, however, think that the trio are only for show.

Borneonisation suit: AG delays hearing

By Luke Rintod

Two Sabahans seeking a ruling of their eight declarations against the state and federal governments will have to wait a little longer for the hearing.

KOTA KINABALU: The Borneonisation suit against the Federal and State governments filed by two Sabahans two months ago which was fixed for hearing today before High Court judge, Justice David Wong Dak Wah, has been postponed to Nov 14, 2011, at the request of Federal Attorney-General.

Comment : Nothing civil about the service

By Jeswan Kaur

Budget 2012 contains a host of goodies for civil servants, but will this help boost their lacklustre performance?

The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) is beaming from ear to ear, overjoyed that the wishes of the 1.3 million civil servants have been taken care of in Budget 2012.

Has the PM gone kaput! There are no measures to shield against global recession

by  Moaz Nair

The 2012 Budget has not made much impact to convince the people to vote for the incumbent Government. Malaysia's financial strength should not be taken for granted.

Comment : Others strive to create knowledge, M'sian universities want to defend God and Bahasa

By AB Sulaiman

The Times Higher Education World University Ranking has recently announced the results of its survey and the ranking of universities from all over the world for 2011-2012.

In the past, some of our universities have done modestly well, slotted in the low 200 -300 positions.

Christian groups unhappy about JAIS-DUMC decision

by  Maria Begum

Christian groups expressed disappointment over the decision to not punish any group over the JAIS-DUMC fiasco which erupted last month. The incident had sparked an outcry that the Umno-controlled Selangor islamic Religious Affairs Department was again trying to stir up trouble in the Pakatan Rakyat-led state and using Christians as the battering ram.

Analysis: China's military buildup: How far along is it?

By Phil Stewart

China's faster-than-expected military buildup has alarmed the United States and its Asian allies and could help the Pentagon gird against deeper defense cuts threatened in some corners of Congress.

EU excludes OTC in D.Boerse/NYSE review: sources

By Edward Taylor and Foo Yun Chee

The European Commission will not include over-the-counter derivatives in its review of Deutsche Boerse's planned takeover of NYSE Euronext, three people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Egypt Christians vent fury after clashes kill 25

By Tamim Elyan and Shaimaa Fayed

Egypt's Coptic Christians turned their fury against the army on Monday after at least 25 people were killed when troops broke up a protest, deepening public doubts about the military's ability to steer the country peacefully toward democracy.

Old rivalries spark Rugby World Cup semis

The World Cup has distilled down to two compelling semi-finals next weekend: tournament revelations Wales against the great enigmas France and another instalment in the prickly All Blacks-Wallabies rivalry.

The World Cup has distilled down to two compelling semi-finals next weekend: tournament revelations Wales against the great enigmas France and another instalment in the prickly All Blacks-Wallabies rivalry.

F1 champion Vettel savours 'special' moment

A jubilant Sebastian Vettel says his second world championship, which makes him the youngest back-to-back winner in Formula One history, is even more special than last year's triumph.

After a night of celebrations, the 24-year-old German, the outstanding driver all season, was still struggling to take in his achievement following a third-placed finish in his Red Bull in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

Australia asks Indonesia to consider teen's minor status

Australia asked Indonesia to take into account the juvenile status of an Australian boy being questioned for alleged drug possession on the resort island of Bali, police said Sunday.

Australian ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty visited Bali from Jakarta Saturday to provide moral support to the 14-year-old, who was arrested last Tuesday with 6.9 grams of marijuana, Bali police spokesman Hariadi told AFP.

Thai PM scraps foreign trips amid flood crisis

Thailand's worst floods in decades have prompted the country's premier to postpone official visits to Singapore and Malaysia, a spokeswoman said on Sunday, as Bangkok braces for rising waters.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra last week described the flooding, which has left more than 250 people dead and inundated huge swathes of the kingdom as a "serious crisis" and warned that the capital would not escape unscathed.